MAIN SECTIONS
 
 
‹
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Strigidae
Уулийнхан
uuliŋkhaŋ

鸱鸮科
chī-xiāo kē

鴟梟科
chī-xiāo kē

フクロウ科
fukurō ka

올빼미과
olppaemi-gwa

Baykuşgiller

  INTER-COUNTRY
current page Strigidae in Mongolia
 Strigidae in Japan
  Strigidae in China
  Strigidae in Taiwan
 Strigidae in Vietnam
Share 分享按钮

General names

This list should be regarded as being 'in beta'. Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Many Kazakh, Turkish, and Korean glosses are highly tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

Unlike English, Mongolian has a range of words referring to the owls, but the precise referents can be hard to pin down.

The general word for 'owl' is Шар шувуу shar shuvuu meaning 'yellow bird'. Owls with ears are known as Ууль uul'. The word Бэгбаатар begbaatar is another commonly used name for certain types of owl, ranging from the Short-eared Owl to the Wood Owls to the Hawk Owls. The meaning of бэг beg is unclear (it is found only in this name), but баатар baatar means 'hero' and is a common component of men's names in Mongolia.

The Scops Owls are known as Орволго orovlog (or Улаавар орволго ulaavar orovlog 'reddish orovlog'). A name which appears to apply mainly to the Long and Short-eared Owls is Холслог kholslog. Mongolian also has the term Ариан ariaŋ, now applied to the Boreal Owl. Small owls are known as Бүгээхэй bügeekhei, a name probably related to the colour бүгээ bügee, which is a light grey. Гуйванга guivaŋg or Гуйванг guivaŋg (also Гуйвангуу guivaŋguu) is described as a smaller kind of owl living in marshy areas.

Finally, there is the term Явлиг yavlig or Явлаг yavlag (Classical yabalaG), which also refers a smaller kind of owl. However, this name is also applied to some diurnal raptors, notably the Osprey, and is found in names like Явлаг галуу yavlag galuu (the Osprey), Явлаг сар yavlag sar (also the Osprey), and Явлаг элээ yavlag elee (literally 'yavlag kite', identity unclear, possibly also the Osprey). In reference to owls, the name is thus often seen in the form Явлаг ууль yavlag uul' ('yavlag owl').

The Buryat names for owls are Уули uuli and Бэгсэргэ begserge.

Regularised names:

The official usage of names for strigid genera is as shown below:

Genus Old New
Otus (Scops Owls) Орволго
orovlog
Орволго
orovlog
Nyctea (Snowy Owl) Ууль
uul'
Уульж
uul'j
Bubo (Eagle Owl) Шар шувуу
shar shuvuu
Шаршувуу
shar-shuvuu
Strix (Wood Owls) Бэгбаатар
begbaatar
Ууль
uul'
Surnia (Hawk Owls) Ууль
uul'
Bэгбаатар
begbaatar
Glaucidium (Pygmy Owls) Бүгээхэй
bügeekhei
Cүилг
süilg
Athene (Little Owl) Бүгээхэй
bügeekhei
Бүгээхэй
bügeekhei
Aegolius (Boreal Owl) Ууль
uul'
Ариан
ariaŋ
Asio (Long-eared/Short-eared Owl) Ууль
uul';
Гуйвангуу
guivanguu;
Явлиг
yavlig
Гуйванга
guivaŋg

In choosing one name for each genus, the 2007 names make a number of changes, several of which are quite confusing.

The Wood Owls, which were formerly called Бэгбаатар begbaatar, have now been given exclusive rights to the name Ууль uul', previously a general name for eared owls. On the other hand, those types of owl formerly called Ууль uul' have now been split among Уульж uul'j (Snowy Owl), Bэгбаатар begbaatar (Hawk Owls), Ариан ariaŋ (Boreal Owl), and Гуйванга guivaŋg (Asio). Apart from Уульж uul'j, most of these are existing names found in standard dictionaries. After this game of musical chairs, we find that the Wood Owls and the Hawk Owls have actually swapped names.

The term Бүгээхэй bügeekhei, formerly applied to several types of Pygmy Owls and Small Owls, is now restricted to the genus Athene, and the term Cүилг süilg (origin unknown, not found in dictionaries) introduced for Glaucidium.

One final problem with the strict application of the 'one genus, one name' rule, not apparent from this list, is that of Nyctea scandiaca, now classed as Bubo. Presumably the Snowy Owl will have to be renamed the Цагаан шаршувуу tsagaaŋ shar-shuvuu, or 'white yellow-bird' when this change is recognised. The previous name, Цэвдгийн ууль tsevdgiŋ uul' 'tundra owl', would probably have been better.

Species names

› ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see) ‹
STRIGINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
MONGOLIAN
EAST ASIAN
TURKIC
Otus                
Latin
English/Russian
Mongolian
Former & Other M
Chinese (incl. Taiwan)
Japanese
Korean
Kazakh
Turkish
Otus scops
link to photo
Eurasian scops owl
Eurasian scops-owl
or
Common scops-owl
Scops owl
European scops owl
Сплюшка,
Обыкновенная совка
Ердийн орволго
yordiŋ orovlog
'common scopsowl'
Орволго
orovlog
'scopsowl'
西红角鸮
(西紅角鴞)
xī hóng jiǎo-xiāo
'western red horned-owl' (2, 4)
红角鸮
(紅角鴞)
hóng jiǎo-xiāo
'red horned-owl' (3)
›Taxonomy‹
ヨーロッパコノハズク
(ヨーロッパ木の葉木菟)
yōroppa ko-no-ha zuku
'European tree-leaf zuku' (some sources)
  Маубас жапалақ
mawbas japalaq
'listless owl'
İshakkuşu
'Isaac ? bird'
Otus sunia
link to photolink to photo
Oriental scops owl
Oriental scops-owl
Уссурийския совка
Ойн орволго
oiŋ orovlog
'forest scopsowl'
  红角鸮
(紅角鴞)
hóng jiǎo-xiāo
'red horned-owl' (1, 2, 4, 5)
东方角鸮
(東方角鴞)
dōngfāng jiǎo-xiāo
'eastern horned-owl' (3)
Taiwan:
(东方角鸮)
東方角鴞
dōngfāng jiǎo-xiāo
'eastern horned-owl'
Taiwan former official:
(角鸮)
角鴞
jiǎo-xiāo
'horned-owl'
コノハズク
(木の葉木菟)
ko-no-ha zuku
'tree-leaf zuku'
소쩍새
sojjeok-sae
'sojjeok bird'
   
Nyctea                
Latin
English/Russian
Mongolian
Former & Other M
Chinese (incl. Taiwan)
Japanese
Korean
Kazakh
Turkish
Nyctea scandiaca
›Taxonomy‹
link to photolink to photo
Snowy owl
Белая сова,
Полярная сова
Цагаан уульж
tsagaaŋ uul'j
'white owl (variant)'
Цэвдгийн ууль
tsevdgiŋ uul'
'tundra owl'
雪鸮
(雪鴞)
xuě-xiāo
'snow owl'
シロフクロウ
(白梟)
shiro-fukurō
'white owl'
흰올빼미
huin-olppaemi
'white owl'
Ақ жапалақ
aq japalaq
'white owl'
 
Bubo                
Latin
English/Russian
Mongolian
Former & Other M
Chinese (incl. Taiwan)
Japanese
Korean
Kazakh
Turkish
Bubo bubo
link to photolink to photo
Eurasian eagle-owl
Northern eagle owl
Eagle owl
Great Eagle Owl
Филин,
Обыкновенный филин
Эгэл шаршувуу
egel shar-shuvuu
'common yellow-bird'
Шар шувуу
shar shuvuu
'yellow bird'

(鵰鴞)
diāo-xiāo
'eagle-owl'
ワシミミズク
(鷲木菟)
washi mimi-zuku
'eagle eared-zuku'
수리부엉이
suri-bueongi
'eagle bueongi'
Үкі
üki
'eagleowl'
Puhu
'owl'
Strix                
Latin
English/Russian
Mongolian
Former & Other M
Chinese (incl. Taiwan)
Japanese
Korean
Kazakh
Turkish
Strix uralensis
link to photolink to photo
Ural owl
Ural wood owl
Длиннохвостая неясыть,
Уралская неясыть
Хув ууль
huv uul'
'earless owl'
Хув бэгбаатар
huv begbaatar
'earless beg-baatar' (baatar 'hero' = man's name)
长尾林鸮
(長尾林鴞)
cháng-wěi lín-xiāo
'long-tailed forest-owl'
フクロウ
()
fukurō
'owl'
긴점박이올빼미
gin-jeombagi-olppaemi
'long dappled owl'
Кезқұйрық жапалақ
kez-quyrıq japalaq
'long-tailed owl'
 
Strix nebulosa
link to photolink to photo
Great grey owl
Dark wood owl
Бородатая неясыть
Угалзан ууль
ugalzaŋ uul'
'spiral-pattern owl'
Угалзан бэгбаатар
ugalzaŋ begbaatar
'spiral-pattern beg-baatar' (baatar 'hero' = man's name)
乌林鸮
(烏林鴞)
wū lín-xiāo
'dark forest-owl'
カラフトフクロウ
(樺太梟)
karafuto fukurō
'Sakhalin owl'
  Сақалды жапалақ
saqaldı japalaq
'bearded owl'
 
 
SURNIINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
MONGOLIAN
EAST ASIAN
TURKIC
Surnia                
Latin
English/Russian
Mongolian
Former & Other M
Chinese (incl. Taiwan)
Japanese
Korean
Kazakh
Turkish
Surnia ulala
link to photolink to photo
Northern hawk-owl
Northern hawk owl
Hawk owl
Ястребинная сова
Харсуун бэгбаатар
kharsuuŋ begbaatar
'kharsuun beg-baatar' (baatar 'hero' = man's name)
Харсуун ууль
kharsuuŋ uul'
'kharsuun owl'
猛鸮
(猛鴞)
měng xiāo
'fierce owl'
オナガフクロウ
(尾長梟)
o-naga fukurō
'long-tailed owl'
긴꼬리올빼미
gin-kkori-olppaemi
'long-tailed owl'
Қыршаға жапалақ
qırşağa japalaq
'qırşağa owl'
 
Glaucidium                
Latin
English/Russian
Mongolian
Former & Other M
Chinese (incl. Taiwan)
Japanese
Korean
Kazakh
Turkish
Glaucidium passerinum
link to photo
Eurasian pygmy owl
Eurasian pygmy-owl
Pygmy owl
Pygmy owlet
Воробьиный сычик
Буслаг сүилг
buslag süilg
'buslag süilg'
Дорнодын бүгээхэй
dornodiŋ bügeekhei
'eastern owlet'
Other:
Буслаг бүгээхэй
buslag bügeekhei
'buslag owlet'
花头鸺鹠
(花頭鸺鹠)
huā-tóu xiū-liú
'flower-headed owlet' (1, 2, 3, 4)
花头侏鸺鹠
(花頭侏鸺鹠)
huā-tóu zhū xiū-liú
'flower-headed pygmy owlet' (5)
スズメフクロウ
(雀梟)
suzume fukurō
'sparrow owl'
  Байғызша
bayğızşa
'owlet-sha ?? '
 
Athene                
Latin
English/Russian
Mongolian
Former & Other M
Chinese (incl. Taiwan)
Japanese
Korean
Kazakh
Turkish
Athene noctua
Athene noctus
link to photolink to photo
Little owl
Домовый сыч,
Обыкновенный домовый сыч
Хотны бүгээхэй
khotni bügeekhei
'khotni owlet'
Хотны бүгээхэй
khotni bügeekhei
'khotni owlet'
纵纹腹小鸮
(縱紋腹小鴞)
zòng-wén-fù xiǎo-xiāo
'vertical-pattern-bellied small owl'
Taiwan:
(纵纹腹小鸮)
縱紋腹小鴞
zòng-wén-fù xiǎo-xiāo
'vertical-pattern-bellied small owl'
コキンメフクロウ
(小金目梟)
ko kin-me fukurō
'small golden-eyed owl'
금눈쇠올빼미
geum-nun-soe-olppaemi
'gold-eyed small owl'
Байғыз
bayğız
'owlet'
Kukumav
'owlet'
Aegolius                
Latin
English/Russian
Mongolian
Former & Other M
Chinese (incl. Taiwan)
Japanese
Korean
Kazakh
Turkish
Aegolius funereus
link to photolink to photo
Boreal owl
or
Tengmalm's owl
Мохноногий сыч
Савагт ариан
savagt ariaŋ
'yak-throat-haired ?? ariaŋ'
Савагт ууль
savagt uul'
'yak-throat-haired ?? owl'
鬼鸮
(鬼鴞)
guǐ xiāo
'demon owl'
キンメフクロウ
(金目梟)
kin-me fukurō
'gold-eyed owl'
  Орман байғызы
orman bayğızı
'forest owlet'
Paçalı Baykuş
'shaggy-legged sir ? bird'
 
ASIONINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
MONGOLIAN
EAST ASIAN
TURKIC
Asio                
Latin
English/Russian
Mongolian
Former & Other M
Chinese (incl. Taiwan)
Japanese
Korean
Kazakh
Turkish
Asio otus
link to photolink to photo
Long-eared owl
Ушастая сова
Соотон гуйванга
sootoŋ guivaŋg
'sharp-eared guivang'
Явлиг ууль
yavlig uul'
'yavlig owl'
Other: Явлиг
yavlig
'yavlig'
Явлаг ууль
yavlag uul'
'yavlig owl'
长耳鸮
(長耳鴞)
cháng-ěr xiāo
'long-eared owl'
Taiwan:
(长耳鸮)
長耳鴞
cháng-ěr xiāo
'long-eared owl'
トラフズク
(虎斑木菟)
tora-fu zuku
'tiger-striped zuku'
칡부엉이
chirk-bueongi
'arrowroot (kudzu?) bueongi'
Құлақты жапалақ
qulaqtı japalaq
'eared owl'
Kulaklı Orman Baykuşu
'eared forest sir ? bird'
Asio flammeus
link to photolink to photo
Short-eared owl
Болотная сова
Хулгар гуйванга
khulgar guivaŋg
'crop-eared guivang'
Гуйвангуу ууль
guivaŋguu uul'
'guivanguu owl'
Other: Гуйвангуу
guivaŋguu
'guivanguu'
短耳鸮
(短耳鴞)
duǎn-ěr xiāo
'short-eared owl'
Taiwan:
(短耳鸮)
短耳鴞
duǎn-ěr xiāo
'short-eared owl'
コミミズク
(小木菟)
ko mimi-zuku
'small eared-zuku'
쇠부엉이
soe-bueongi
'small bueongi'
Саз жапалақ
saz japalaq
'marsh owl'
Kır Baykuşu
'greyish sir ? bird'
(Site uses UK spelling, e.g., "grey-coloured")